The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has sent a message of condolence to the Anglican Archbishop of Japan, the Most Revd Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, expressing support and prayers for the Japanese people following the recent 8.9 earthquake and tsunami. Dr Williams wrote: ‘The news of the horrific earthquake in Japan has shocked us all. We await further and more detailed news with apprehension, but I want to say immediately that our hearts and our prayers go out to all who have been affected and that we as a church will do what we can to offer practical as well as spiritual support at this time of great suffering and great anxiety for so many.’ The development agencies of the British churches are responding with practical support. The Methodists have issued a prayer for the situation, which can be read at the link below. Pray:for the people of Japan and especially for our brothers and sisters in the United Church of Christ in Japan. (Zec.10:8-9) More:http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14310
British child death rates are 'a major crisis'
15 Jul 2013Five children die unnecessarily every day of conditions such as asthma, meningitis and pneumonia because NHS care for young people is badly organised and dangerously inadequate, the leader of Britain's 11,000 specialists in children's health warns. About 2,000 children a year lose their lives because of an array of problems, which means the UK has some of the worst death rates among children up to the age of 14 in Europe, says the president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health . Branding the situation "a major crisis", Hilary Cass said that sick children were at greater risk of dying because some GPs lacked paediatric skills, expertise was absent in too many small paediatric units, and there was a serious shortage of consultants. The college believes a lack of senior paediatric doctors is so acute that the safety of treatment cannot be guaranteed at every unit. Cass urges the NHS to instigate radical changes in how it treats children to reduce preventable deaths.
Pray: for sick children and those who care for them and for an inmprovement in service provision in paediatrics. (Jer.8:22)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/13/preventable-child-deaths-nhs
A new report commissioned by the Association of Chief Police Officers revealed for the first time the true scale of immigration prostitution and trafficking. At least 2,600 women were confirmed as being trafficked into England and Wales and forced to work as prostitutes, it found. A further 9,200 sex workers at brothels and other premises were considered to be ‘vulnerable migrants’ working unwillingly in the sex trade, but whom researchers could not be certain had been trafficked. Half of the women are Chinese, police said, with the majority of others from Eastern European and other south east Asian nations. Mohib Rahman, a Home Office official, said: ‘We need to step up our efforts and to do more to get a handle on why so many people are trafficked from China.’ Pray: for the authorities as they seek way to combat this evil trade. (Lev.19:29)
British banks face heat from on high
05 Oct 2012The beleaguered British banking industry has faced angry politicians, regulators and consumers. This Autumn, a new player has joined the inquisition: a bespectacled bishop wearing a cross made of nails. The Right Reverend Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, (See http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/faith/article3554265.ece ) is grilling top bankers as part of a new parliamentary inquiry into ‘banking standards’ that represents the U.K. government's latest attempt to shake up the industry. The inquiry was established in July on the heels of news that several banks allegedly sought to rig interest rates such as the London inter-bank lending rate, known as Libor. Bishop Welby, a former oil executive who sits in Britain's House of Lords, has joined nine other lawmakers in assembling a report that will consider new rules on everything from corporate governance to conflicts of interest. The inquiry also involves a series of public hearings already under way.
Pray: for God’s wisdom and justice to guide those researching this report. (Lev.19:35)
More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444752504578024833471492280.html?KEYWORDS=welby
British armed forces returning from Afghanistan
19 May 2010Servicemen and women are coming to the end of their deployment and are being replaced on a gradual changeover in Afghanistan. This is a vulnerable time for service personnel. Anticipating a safe return, service personnel need to stay vigilant right until they get on the aircraft to go home. We all should be aware of their damaging memories from incidents witnessed during their deployment and support them if they require to seek professional help because they find it difficult adjusting to normal life.
Pray: that they will adjust quickly back into their normal routines and family life. (Heb 13:17)
British Armed Forces redundancies
20 Apr 2013The Armed Forces are undergoing a dramatic reduction in size and reorganisation. Over 6,600 personnel across all three services were notified of their selection for redundancy in the first two tranches, which took place in 2011 and 2012. The third tranche, affecting only the Army, was announced in January 2013. A fourth tranche is expected in early 2014. The complete process should be over by the middle of 2015 with approximately 9,500 people expected to be released under tranche 3 and 4. Up to 5,300 Army personnel are in the pool for redundancy in tranche 3. Those selected for redundancy in tranche 3 will be told on 18 June 2013.
Pray: for those Service personnel as they wait to hear if they are losing their job. Please pray for the families as they have to face finding homes, new schools and a new life situation. (Jer. 29:11)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21134353
British Armed Forces in Afghanistan
16 Nov 2013The penultimate British force has arrived in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. These troops were once in more than 130 bases, but this is now down to five, and will reduce still further. They now rarely patrol and the formation of the brigade has changed too. They have enough armour and infantry to protect them from Taliban attacks, but a large part of the force is made up of engineers and logisticians engaged in packing what they can to take back to UK and disposing of what they cannot. Many of the troops now arriving in Helmand will stay for nine months, but some will leave earlier as the force rapidly scales back. Please pray for the families who are facing a long nine month separation from their loved ones, and especially for the children who are fearful of Daddy being away.
Pray: that the draw down will be peaceful and safe. Please pray against attacks from the Taliban which might hinder this process. (Ps.140:4)
Hundreds of thousands of Christians across Britain and Ireland are joining in the 2013 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in churches across these islands. The Week is an annual event marked by churches of all traditions - Catholic, Anglican, Orthodox, evangelical and indigenous. It runs from 18-25 January, though many congregations were most involved on last Sunday, 20 January. The collaborative event aims at building bridges in witness and common service between Christians of many backgrounds and understandings, and is promoted by ecumenical bodies nationally and internationally. The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2013 comes from an ecumenical group in South India. They have reflected upon their own context and offer to people across the globe thematic ideas that call fellow Christians to respond to the obligation to act justly in the world. The text is taken from Micah 6.6-8.
Pray: for a significant legacy from the week of prayer. ( Mic. 6:6-8)
More: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17826